The Penumbra Podcast
The Penumbra Podcast

The Penumbra Podcast

Harley Takagi Kaner and Kevin Vibert

Overview
Episodes

Details

At the Penumbra, you might follow Juno Steel, a brooding, sharp-witted private eye on Mars, as he tangles with an elusive homme fatale, tracks dangerous artifacts of an ancient alien civilization, and faces his three greatest fears: heights, blood, and relationships. 

Or you might enter the world of the Second Citadel, where the merciless Sir Caroline must corral a team of emotionally distraught all-male knights to defend their city against mind-manipulating monsters...even the ones they’ve fallen in love with. 

Or you might tune into the not-too-distant future of Thirst, a future America somehow even worse than the present, where four couples must survive a dangerous reality TV competition designed by a sadistic host and a cheerfully violent Algorithm.

These audio dramas and more await you in the Penumbra, dear traveler. We hope you enjoy your stay. (Start with "1.01: Juno Steel and the Case of the Murderous Mask" to follow the Juno Steel series, "1.09: Second Citadel - The Head of the Janus Beast" to follow the Second Citadel series, or "THIRST S1E1: Icebreaker" to listen to the Thirst series. Or, listen from oldest to newest to hear everything as we released it.)

The Penumbra is created and produced by Harley Takagi Kaner and Kevin Vibert. Follow us on Bluesky (@thepenumbrapod.bsky.social‬), Tumblr (@thepenumbrapodcast), TikTok (@thepenumbrapodcast), Instagram (@thepenumbrapodcast), or Facebook (The Penumbra Podcast). 

For early and ad-free episodes, production scripts, commentary tracks, blooper reels, livestreams with the creators, and much more, you can find The Penumbra Podcast: SPECIAL EDITION at: https://thepenumbrapodcast.supercast.com

You can find all of our transcripts here. If you would like to view trigger warnings or SFX attributions, you can scroll to the end of the appropriate episode transcript: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/1bnWLw5dTW4l9A0bmOMzEiy6XqqsXHHi_


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recent Episodes

THIRST S1E11: L'enfer
DEC 4, 2025
THIRST S1E11: L'enfer

Can't Tear My Eyes From You, Chapter 11: L'enfer.


The third elimination challenge begins.


Cast:


Anjimile as Three-Time Grammy Award Winner Sal Butcher

Marge Dunn as Raine Randolph

Amanda Egbu as Georgia Whittaker

Josephine Moshiri Elwood as Valentina Ride

Tooky Kavanagh as The Algorithm

Quinn McKenzie as Capote Whittaker

Melody Perera as Anouk Kalhara

Stefano Perti as Dennis Lang

Marc Pierre as Sergeant Murdock

Stewart Evan Smith as Taylor Kelley

Alexander Stravinski as The Host


(Trigger warnings can be found at the bottom of this episode description and at the end of the transcript.)


-------


You can find all of our transcripts here. Transcripts will come out along with the public release of the episode and include all required SFX attributions.


On staff at the Penumbra:

Ginny D'Angelo -- Head of Operations

Melissa DeJesus -- Script editing team

Harley Takagi Kaner -- Co-creator, Head of Episode Development, Director, Sound designer

Joelle Kross -- Transcriptionist

Grahame Turner -- Script editing team

Kevin Vibert -- Co-creator, Head of Operations, Lead writer

Ryan Vibert -- Composer and performer of original music

Jeff Wright -- Graphic designer


--------

TRIGGER WARNINGS:


- Violence and threats of violence

- Deception and gaslighting

- Manipulation

- Political violence

- Abuse of power

- Helplessness

- Starvation

- Racism, homophobia, transphobia

- Sudden loud noises

- Descriptions of domestic abuse

- Depictions of self-harm


You can find early and ad-free episodes, production scripts, commentary tracks, blooper reels, livestreams with the creators, and much more, at The Penumbra Podcast: SPECIAL EDITION.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

play-circle icon
47 MIN
Thirst S1E10: Billboard Row, Part 2
NOV 20, 2025
Thirst S1E10: Billboard Row, Part 2

Can't Tear My Eyes From You, Chapter 10: Billboard Row, Part 2.


The contestants gather more information, but their interpersonal relationships suffer.


Cast:


Marge Dunn as Raine Randolph

Amanda Egbu as Georgia Whittaker

Josephine Moshiri Elwood as Valentina Ride

Joshua Ilon as "Dennis Cruz"

Tooky Kavanagh as The Algorithm

Quinn McKenzie as Capote Whittaker

Jason Mellin as Grimy Garth

Melody Perera as Anouk Kalhara

Stefano Perti as Dennis Lang

Marc Pierre as Sergeant Murdock

Noah Simes as the BBSSC Announcer

Stewart Evan Smith as Taylor Kelley

Alexander Stravinski as The Host


(Trigger warnings can be found at the bottom of this episode description and at the end of the transcript.)


-------


You can find all of our transcripts here. Transcripts will come out along with the public release of the episode and include all required SFX attributions.


On staff at the Penumbra:

Ginny D'Angelo -- Head of Operations

Melissa DeJesus -- Script editing team

Harley Takagi Kaner -- Co-creator, Head of Episode Development, Director, Sound designer

Joelle Kross -- Transcriptionist

Grahame Turner -- Script editing team

Kevin Vibert -- Co-creator, Head of Operations, Lead writer

Ryan Vibert -- Composer and performer of original music

Jeff Wright -- Graphic designer


--------

TRIGGER WARNINGS:


- Starvation

- Violence and threats of violence

- Unwanted sexual interest/advances

- Sudden loud noises

- Domestic abuse

- Paranoia and mass delusion

- Abuse of authority

- Gaslighting/deception

- Historical racism

- Gore and body horror

- Severe violence and death


You can find early and ad-free episodes, production scripts, commentary tracks, blooper reels, livestreams with the creators, and much more, at The Penumbra Podcast: SPECIAL EDITION.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

play-circle icon
52 MIN
Check out: [REDACTED] S1E1
NOV 13, 2025
Check out: [REDACTED] S1E1

[REDACTED] S1E1: False Start (Part 1)

—--------------


Introducing [REDACTED]; from Athan (The Grotto) and Jamie Petronis (The Cellar Letters)


Following the death of his twin, failing actor Jacob Kane assumes his late-brother’s life in hopes of a fresh start. Instead of finding stability, Jacob finds himself working within The [REDACTED] Unit, a covert agency tasked with containing impossible creatures and phenomena. As he becomes entangled with paranormal forces and secret agendas, Jacob begins to discover a sense of belonging in a place he never expected.


Equal parts horror and workplace satire, [REDACTED] takes inspiration from late 90s & early 2000s television like procedural monster-of-the-week shows X-files & Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the classic ensemble banter of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Psych.


Visit our website: https://theredactedunit.com/

Join the discussion: http://theredactedunit.com/discord


[REDACTED] S1E1: False Start (Part 1)

Jacob Kane makes a big life change


Starring:

Jamie Petronis as Jacob Kane

Athan as Eli Reyes

Dan Morris as The Strict Producer

Jeffrey Reddick as The Anxious Screenwriter

Karen Neat as Server

James Spurney as as Phil (Landlord)

Nathan Lundsford as Jordan Kane

Harlan Guthrie as ■■■

Zoe D. Lee as ■■■■■

Ben Akira Spencer as Officer

Ioana Adascalitei as Jody (Paramedic)


General Show Warnings

Recurring themes of violence and peril, horror, death and grief, sudden & unsettling audio, use of weapons, secret-police/cover-ups, strong language.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

play-circle icon
21 MIN
THIRST S1E9: Billboard Row, Part 1
NOV 6, 2025
THIRST S1E9: Billboard Row, Part 1

Can't Tear My Eyes From You, Chapter 9: Billboard Row, Part 1.


Anouk tells a story about her childhood. A rule is changed.


Cast:


Marge Dunn as Raine Randolph

Amanda Egbu as Georgia Whittaker

Josephine Moshiri Elwood as Valentina Ride

Eleanore Cho Fellerhoff as "Holliday Murdock"

Joshua Ilon as "Dennis Cruz"

Tooky Kavanagh as The Algorithm

Quinn McKenzie as Capote Whittaker

Melody Perera as Anouk Kalhara

Stefano Perti as Dennis Lang

Marc Pierre as Sergeant Murdock and Kid 1

Stewart Evan Smith as Taylor Kelley and General Ricky Caruso

Alexander Stravinski as The Host


(Trigger warnings can be found at the bottom of this episode description and at the end of the transcript.)


-------


You can find all of our transcripts here. Transcripts will come out along with the public release of the episode and include all required SFX attributions.


On staff at the Penumbra:

Ginny D'Angelo -- Head of Operations

Melissa DeJesus -- Script editing team

Harley Takagi Kaner -- Co-creator, Head of Episode Development, Director, Sound designer

Joelle Kross -- Transcriptionist

Grahame Turner -- Script editing team

Kevin Vibert -- Co-creator, Head of Operations, Lead writer

Ryan Vibert -- Composer and performer of original music

Jeff Wright -- Graphic designer


--------

TRIGGER WARNINGS:


- Sudden loud noises

- Violence and threats of violence

- Verbal abuse

- Deception

- Military violence

- Violence towards children

- Propaganda and indoctrination

- Imprisonment

- Depicted car accident


You can find early and ad-free episodes, production scripts, commentary tracks, blooper reels, livestreams with the creators, and much more, at The Penumbra Podcast: SPECIAL EDITION.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

play-circle icon
37 MIN
THIRST S1E8: Stained
OCT 16, 2025
THIRST S1E8: Stained

Can't Tear My Eyes From You, Chapter 8: Stained.


The second elimination challenge is completed.


Cast:


Marge Dunn as Raine Randolph

Amanda Egbu as Georgia Whittaker

Josephine Moshiri Elwood as Valentina Ride

Eleanore Cho Fellerhoff as Holliday Murdock

Sarah Gazdowicz as the Fix-Your-Face Announcer

Joshua Ilon as Dennis Cruz

Tooky Kavanagh as The Algorithm

Quinn McKenzie as Capote Whittaker

Melody Perera as Anouk Kalhara

Stefano Perti as Dennis Lang

Marc Pierre as Sergeant Murdock

Stewart Evan Smith as Taylor Kelley

Alexander Stravinski as The Host


(Trigger warnings can be found at the bottom of this episode description and at the end of the transcript.)


-------


You can find all of our transcripts here. Transcripts will come out along with the public release of the episode and include all required SFX attributions.


On staff at the Penumbra:

Ginny D'Angelo -- Head of Operations

Melissa DeJesus -- Script editing team

Harley Takagi Kaner -- Co-creator, Head of Episode Development, Director, Sound designer

Joelle Kross -- Transcriptionist

Grahame Turner -- Script editing team

Kevin Vibert -- Co-creator, Head of Operations, Lead writer

Ryan Vibert -- Composer and performer of original music

Jeff Wright -- Graphic designer


--------

TRIGGER WARNINGS:


- Verbal and emotional abuse

- Sudden loud noises

- Death

- Violence and threats of violence

- Gore and body horror

- Body dysmorphia and body image issues

- Homophobia and racism

- Discussions around objectification and sexualization

- Unwanted sexual advances

- Graphic language

- Abuse of authority

- Deception

- Vomiting

- Body shaming


You can find early and ad-free episodes, production scripts, commentary tracks, blooper reels, livestreams with the creators, and much more, at The Penumbra Podcast: SPECIAL EDITION.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

play-circle icon
50 MIN